Toy blocks for children

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to toy blocks for children including: a plurality of block bodies  10  molded from a synthetic resin material; edge connection parts  11  extended from each block body  10  in such a manner as to be molded unitarily to each block body  10,  each edge connection part  11  having a size corresponding to each edge connection part  11  of another block body  10;  and coupling means  20  adapted to maintain the edge connection parts  11  of the two block bodies  10  in the state of being connected to each other on the same line as each other.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to toy blocks for children, and moreparticularly, to toy blocks for children that are easily assembled toeach other and freely extended to a variety of three-dimensionalstructures, thereby permitting the creative range of the children to bebroadened and also permitting the intelligence and excitement of thechildren to be more developed.

BACKGROUND ART

Generally, assembly type toy blocks are toys having a plurality of unitblocks having various shapes assembled to each other and disassembledfrom each other through direct manipulation of children, which providesthe excitement and accomplishment to the children and further developsthe creativity and intelligence of the children.

According to conventional assembly type toy blocks, a plurality offitting protrusions are formed on the top surfaces of the unit blocks,and a plurality of grooves are formed on the underside surfaces of theunit blocks in such a manner as to insert the fitting protrusionsthereinto.

In this case, however, the top surfaces of the respective unit blocksare coupled just to the underside surfaces of the unit blockscorresponding thereto so as to make a given structure, which causes thethree-dimensional effect of the structure to be reduced and furthermakes the children feel bored easily.

So as to avoid such problems, accordingly, there have been toy blocks asdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,055,019 and Korean Utility ModelRegistration No. 20-141302 wherein given three-dimensional structurescan be made using regular triangular elements and regular squareelements.

In these prior art, however, the elements are connected to each other byinserting the abutment face of each element into the abutment face ofthe opposite element thereto.

Accordingly, a desired one three-dimensional structure is built byconnecting the elements, but it is impossible to build a variety ofstructures through the extension and changes of the elements, whichmakes children feel bored easily while they are playing with the blocks.

Besides, in the process of completing the three-dimensional structure,the respective neighboring blocks form the corners of thethree-dimensional structure.

That is, for example, if a structure of a regular hexahedron is builtup, the end edges of the two blocks positioned perpendicularly theretoare placed on the corners of the structure, such that the structure hasthe two edges of the two blocks positioned on one corner thereof.

Hence, the contour of the completed structure does not appear clearly,which makes the degree of completion of the structure lowered.

DISCLOSURE TECHNICAL PROBLEM

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of theabove-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and it is an objectof the present invention to provide toy blocks for children that arecapable of being extended from neighboring block bodies connected toeach other so as to built up a three-dimensional structure having avariety of shapes.

It is another object of the present invention to provide toy blocks forchildren that are capable of building up a three-dimensional structurehaving a variety of shapes, thereby developing the children'sinteresting and intelligence.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide toy blocksfor children that are capable of being assembled and disassembled easilythrough the direct manipulation of the children, thereby providing theeasiness in use.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide toyblocks for children that are capable of being clearly made in thecontour of the corners of a completed three-dimensional structure,thereby enhancing the degrees of understanding and completion of thestructure and greatly improving the merchantability of the product.

Technical Solution

To accomplish the above objects, according to the present invention,there are provided toy blocks for children including: a plurality ofblock bodies molded from a synthetic resin material; edge connectionparts extended from each block body in such a manner as to be moldedunitarily to each block body, each edge connection part having a sizecorresponding to each edge connection part of another block body; andcoupling means adapted to maintain the edge connection parts of the twoblock bodies in the state of being connected to each other on the sameline as each other.

According to the present invention, preferably, each block body hasgenerally sharp peak points formed at center positions where the cornerreferences of the structure are formed, in the state where thecorresponding edge connection parts are assembled to each other.

According to the present invention, preferably, each coupling meanscomprises a contact plate mounted on the end of each edge connectionpart and having a space portion formed therein and a permanent magnetmounted inside the space portion so as to be self-attached to thepermanent magnet mounted inside the space portion of another edgeconnection part through a magnetic force generated therefrom.

According to the present invention, preferably, each coupling meanscomprises a projection protruded from the end of each edge connectionpart and a connection member having a locking groove formed on both endsthereof in such a manner as to insert the projections of the neighboringedge connection parts thereinto.

According to the present invention, preferably, the space portion intowhich the permanent magnet is mounted is molded to a larger size thanthe permanent magnet, such that the permanent magnet is freely rotatedinside the space portion.

According to the present invention, preferably, the permanent magnet hasa cylindrical shape and has polarities divided along the circumferentialdirection.

According to the present invention, preferably, the number of edgeconnection parts formed on each block body is three, and they are formedtoward the regular triangular positions.

According to the present invention, preferably, the number of edgeconnection parts formed on each block body is four, and they are formedtoward the regular square positions.

Advantageous Effect

According to the present invention, the toy blocks for children arecapable of extending a given three-dimensional structure in such amanner as to connect each edge of the block body with each edge ofanother block body.

Accordingly, the toy blocks for children according to the presentinvention can built up the three-dimensional structure having a varietyof shapes, thereby developing the children's interesting andintelligence.

Further, when the three-dimensional structure is completed after theblock bodies are assembled, a single contour line is formed on eachcorner of the structure, thereby enhancing the degrees of understandingand completion of the structure and greatly improving themerchantability of the product.

In addition, the toy blocks for children according to the presentinvention are capable of being assembled and disassembled easily throughthe children, thereby providing the easiness of the manipulation.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example where toy blocks forchildren according to the present invention are assembled to each other.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of theassembled state of the toy blocks for children according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing an example of the assembled state of thetoy blocks for children according to the present invention, which ispartially cut.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of coupling means of thetoy blocks for children according to the present invention, which ispartially cut.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a pyramid example made byconnecting a plurality of block bodies to each other in the toy blocksfor children according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a front view showing an example where the plurality of squareand triangular block bodies are assembled to each other, which ispartially cut.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing another example of the coupling means ofthe toy blocks for children according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing another example of thecoupling means of the toy blocks for children according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 9 is a front view showing another example of the plurality of blockbodies in the toy blocks for children according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view showing a portion “A” in FIG. 3.

BEST MODE FOR INVENTION

Hereinafter, an explanation on toy blocks for children according to thepresent invention will be in detail given with reference to the attacheddrawings.

According to the present invention, a plurality of block bodies 10 aremolded from a synthetic resin material, and as shown, they have theshape of a regular square or regular triangle having a given thickness.Further, each block body 10 has edge connection parts 11 extended by agiven length toward each edge therefrom in such a manner as to be moldedunitarily thereto.

Also, the bock bodies 10 have the regular square or triangular shape, asshown, but they may be made in the shapes of regular pentagon to regularoctagon.

The edge connection parts 11 of one block body 11 are molded to a sizecorresponding to the edge connection parts 11 of other block bodies 11.

That is, as shown, one of the edge connection parts 11 of one side blockbody 11 and one of the edge connection parts 11 of the other side blockbody 11 corresponding thereto on the same line as each other come closeto each other at a position where they cross each other and areconnected to form one extended edge or a corner of a structure.

Moreover, coupling means 20 is needed to maintain the edge connectionparts 11 of the two block bodies 10 in the state of being connected toeach other on the same line as each other.

The coupling means 20 has a contact plate 22 mounted on the end of eachedge connection part 11 and having a space portion 23 formed therein anda permanent magnet 21 mounted inside the space portion 23 so as to beself-attached to the permanent magnet 21 mounted inside the spaceportion 23 of another edge connection part 11 through a magnetic forcegenerated therefrom.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the contact plate 22 is formedunitarily with the end of each edge connection part 11, and the contactplate 22 has the space portion 23 formed therein and the permanentmagnet 21 having a cylindrical shape mounted in the space portion 23.

The permanent magnet 21 is mounted to a smaller size than the spaceportion 23, thereby being freely rotated inside the space portion 23.

As shown in FIG. 4, the permanent magnet 21 has polarities N and Sdivided along the circumferential direction with respect to the centeraxis thereof.

Accordingly, as the contact plates 22 of the block bodies 10 come closeto each other, the permanent magnets 21 inside their space portions 23are freely rotated and self-attached to each other at the differentpolarity positions from each other.

As another example of the coupling means 20 in the toy blocks accordingto the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the coupling means20 has a projection 24 protruded from the end of each edge connectionpart 11 in such a manner as to connect the projection 24 with theprojection 24 of the neighboring edge connection part 11 in a state ofbeing spaced apart from each other by means of a connection member 25.

The connection member 25 has locking grooves 26 formed on the centers ofboth sides thereof so as to fittedly lock the projections 24 thereinto.

Accordingly, since all of the block bodies 10 and the connection members25 molded from the synthetic resin material have given elasticity, in astate where the projection 24 and the locking groove 26 are positionedto correspond with each other, if a slight force is applied to them, theprojection 24 is insertedly locked to the locking groove 26 with a clicksound.

Through the way where the projections 24 formed on the ends of the edgeconnection parts 11 are insertedly locked to the locking grooves 26formed on both sides of the connection member 25, the edge connectionparts 11 of the block bodies 11 come close to each other at a positionwhere they cross each other and are connected to form one extended edgeor a corner of a structure.

Further, if it is desired to separate the block bodies 10 from theconnection members 25, a slight force is applied to a direction wherethe edge connection parts 11 are escaped from the connection members 25,such that the projections 24 are escaped and separated from the lockinggrooves 26 through the elasticity of the plastic material.

On the other hand, each block body 10 has generally sharp peak points 12formed at center positions where the corner references of the structureare formed in the state where the corresponding edge connection parts 11are assembled to each other.

Accordingly, as shown in FIGS. 3, 7 and 9, after the edge connectionparts 11 of the plurality of block bodies 10 are connected to each otheron the linear lines by means of the coupling means 20, the respectivepeak points 12 are contacted to each other to the form of a point on thesame position as each other.

In this state, when the angles of the two block bodies 10 are changed,for example, in a perpendicular relation to each other so as to obtain adesired structure, the respective peak points 12 form the respectivereference points.

At this time, the respective edge connection parts 11 form the cornerlines of the completed three-dimensional structure.

In case where the block body 10 has a regular triangular shape, thenumber of edge connection parts 11 formed on the respective edges isthree, which are formed toward the regular triangular positions.

In case where the block body 10 has a regular square shape, the numberof edge connection parts 11 formed on the respective edges is four,which are formed toward the regular square positions.

According to the present invention, the toy blocks for children can bemade to the three-dimensional structure having a variety of shapes andcan be also assembled in the state where the edge connection parts 11are connected to each other on one linear line toward the edge directionor the corner position in a convenient and accurate way, therebypermitting the children to play with them with easiness.

Further, the contour of the corners of the desired three-dimensionalstructure can be clearly formed, thereby enhancing the degrees ofunderstanding and completion of the three-dimensional structure andgreatly improving the merchantability of the product.

While the present invention has been described with reference to theparticular illustrative embodiments, it is not to be restricted by theembodiments but only by the appended claims. It is to be appreciatedthat those skilled in the art can change or modify the embodimentswithout departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

1. Toy blocks for children comprising: a plurality of block bodies 10molded from a synthetic resin material; edge connection parts 11extended from each block body 10 in such a manner as to be moldedunitarily to each block body 10, each edge connection part 11 having asize corresponding to each edge connection part 11 of another block body10; and coupling means 20 adapted to maintain the edge connection parts11 of the two block bodies 10 in the state of being connected to eachother on the same line as each other.
 2. The toy blocks for childrenaccording to claim 1, wherein each block body 10 has generally sharppeak points 12 formed at center positions where the corner references ofthe structure are formed, in the state where the corresponding edgeconnection parts 11 are assembled to each other.
 3. The toy blocks forchildren according to claim 1, wherein each coupling means 20 comprisesa contact plate 22 mounted on the end of each edge connection part 11and having a space portion 23 formed therein and a permanent magnet 21mounted inside the space portion 23 so as to be self-attached to thepermanent magnet 21 mounted inside the space portion 23 of another edgeconnection part 11 through a magnetic force generated therefrom.
 4. Thetoy blocks for children according to claim 1, wherein each couplingmeans 20 comprises a projection 24 protruded from the end of each edgeconnection part 11 and a connection member 25 having a locking groove 26formed on both ends thereof in such a manner as to insert theprojections 24 of the neighboring edge connection parts 11 thereinto. 5.The toy blocks for children according to claim 3, wherein the spaceportion 23 into which the permanent magnet 21 is mounted is molded to alarger size than the permanent magnet 21, such that the permanent magnet21 is freely rotated inside the space portion
 23. 6. The toy blocks forchildren according to claim 3, wherein the permanent magnet 21 has acylindrical shape and has polarities divided along the circumferentialdirection.
 7. The toy blocks for children according to claim 1, whereinthe number of edge connection parts 11 formed on each block body 10 isthree, and they are formed toward the regular triangular positions. 8.The toy blocks for children according to claim 1, wherein the number ofedge connection parts 11 formed on each block body 10 is four, and theyare formed toward the regular square positions.
 9. The toy blocks forchildren according to claim 2, wherein the number of edge connectionparts 11 formed on each block body 10 is three, and they are formedtoward the regular triangular positions.
 10. The toy blocks for childrenaccording to claim 3, wherein the number of edge connection parts 11formed on each block body 10 is three, and they are formed toward theregular triangular positions.
 11. The toy blocks for children accordingto claim 4, wherein the number of edge connection parts 11 formed oneach block body 10 is three, and they are formed toward the regulartriangular positions.
 12. The toy blocks for children according to claim5, wherein the number of edge connection parts 11 formed on each blockbody 10 is three, and they are formed toward the regular triangularpositions.
 13. The toy blocks for children according to claim 6, whereinthe number of edge connection parts 11 formed on each block body 10 isthree, and they are formed toward the regular triangular positions. 14.The toy blocks for children according to claim 2, wherein the number ofedge connection parts 11 formed on each block body 10 is four, and theyare formed toward the regular square positions.
 15. The toy blocks forchildren according to claim 3, wherein the number of edge connectionparts 11 formed on each block body 10 is four, and they are formedtoward the regular square positions.
 16. The toy blocks for childrenaccording to claim 4, wherein the number of edge connection parts 11formed on each block body 10 is four, and they are formed toward theregular square positions.
 17. The toy blocks for children according toclaim 5, wherein the number of edge connection parts 11 formed on eachblock body 10 is four, and they are formed toward the regular squarepositions.
 18. The toy blocks for children according to claim 6, whereinthe number of edge connection parts 11 formed on each block body 10 isfour, and they are formed toward the regular square positions.